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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 648 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 15 August 2019 by Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

648. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Mental Health:

I have a supplementary question. I appreciate that prepared response. Can the minister confirm that the report also highlights that his failure is placing substantial pressure on hospital emergency departments and contributing to the out-of-control ambulance ramping which, once again, represents a failure of his leadership in this critical area?

Mr R.H. COOK replied:

As I said, the Auditor General's report did not make any observations that were not already in the public domain. We know that our emergency departments are struggling with a changing cohort of patients with a greater need for mental health services. What should we do to respond to that? Clearly, we would implement election commitments that committed to the implementation of mental health emergency centres, as we are doing currently at Royal Perth Hospital. We plan to further expand the mental health observation area at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. We have announced plans in relation to Midland Public Hospital. All around our health system, we are continuing to invest in mental health services to make sure that those people who go to our emergency departments have more appropriate care. That will mean our EDs will become safer for staff and safer for patients, and will make sure people get the care they need when they need it.